Digital Goa, Jan 12 – Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Monday said true progress must be measured not only by economic growth and infrastructure, but by the happiness and well-being of people, as he addressed the State Legislative Assembly at the start of the 5 day Winter Session. He further announced that the State will prepare a first-of-its-kind Happiness Index to assess citizens’ well-being across health, education, environment, culture and community life.
Some Salient Points in Governors address
- The proposed New Mopa Ayush City at Pernem, spread over 93.14 hectares, will be developed as a sports and wellness city.
- 59 infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,410.87 crore were completed up to November 2025, while 15 projects worth Rs 1,002.48 crore are under execution.
- During 2025–26, the Goa Investment Promotion Board approved 17 projects worth Rs 397 crore, generating 2,449 jobs, and secured commitments for three mega projects involving Rs 2,544 crore and 1,767 jobs.
- Twelve iron ore blocks have been auctioned, with five operational, earning the State Rs 252.83 crore as upfront payments.
- A Rs 350-crore project to provide alternate raw water supply from the Chapora river to water treatment plants is nearing implementation.
- The CZMP 2011 has been approved, while the draft CZMP 2019 will be placed for public consultation within a month, benefiting coastal communities.
- Goa’s economy recorded a 14.94% growth rate in 2023–24 (provisional), and the State aims to achieve developed State status by 2037.
- Institutional deliveries stand at 99.7%, infant mortality at 5.6 per 1,000 live births, maternal deaths at four, and full immunisation coverage at 108%.
- Law and order remains under control with a crime detection rate of 87.72%
- Fire and Emergency Services attended 7,111 calls between January and October 2025, saving 140 human lives, 690 animal lives, and property worth Rs 29.54 crore.
- Under livelihood initiatives, over 3,200 self-help groups involving 46,000 women availed loans worth Rs 380 crore, leading to the creation of 4,387 Lakhpati Didis.
- Goa signed an MoU with AI4Bharat, IIT Madras, to strengthen Konkani language technology under the Digital India Bhashini Mission.
- Five watershed projects under WDC–PMKSY 2.0 have been sanctioned with an outlay of Rs 55.95 crore, benefiting farmers across 19,985 hectares.
In his address, the governor also expressed condolences to families affected by the Lairai Devi Jatra stampede in Shirgao, the Arpora fire incident, and road accident fatalities.
